Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 2218

Tonight's special guest is Kelly Pampin from Stamford, Connecticut, a survivor and author of an upcoming memoir, 'My Two Faces'. Kelly's child abuse began in the basement of her own home, when she was 8, and her abuser was a 45-year-old friend of her uncle. Later, at 15, she was raped, got pregnant, and had a daughter. Kelly was also abused at 20 years old by a cartel in Colombia. She shares, "I have overcome numerous obstacles in life. My perseverance has enabled me to share my story with the world. I've helped many people in need throughout Colombia, South America and the USA. Kelly has volunteered with organizations like Stamford Mentoring Program for Middle Schoolers, Junior Achievement of Southwest Connecticut, and United Way. As a Certified Public Accountant, Kelly has also volunteered with the Internal Revenue Service to help those in need with their tax returns. Kelly says her book was inspired by actual events. "I am a survivor and I discovered I could heal through writing and helping others and so that is exactly what I did. My story is very powerful, and my memoir should be published by year end." Kelly concludes, "My heart's desire is to spread awareness about trauma, abuse and mental health issues, and to let those coping with depression and mental illness know that they are not alone. There are many ways to heal. By telling my story, I want to help people overcome their sense of helplessness when it comes to dealing with the issues life throws at us."